Guardian 24,796 / Araucaria
A devilish theme from Araucaria today, and a puzzle of mixed difficulty, I found, with some rather obscure references. Key: * = anagram dd = double definition < = reverse Across 1. IRREMEDIABLE … Read more >>
Month: September 2009
Independent 7136 by Virgilius (Saturday Prize Puzzle – 29 August 2009)
I solved this in an afternoon whilst watching sport on television, so the fact that I could multi-task probably means that the sport wasn’t too engrossing and the crossword wasn’t too difficult. The … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,173 / Satori
A stimulating, challenging puzzle from Satori. This is the first Satori puzzle I’m blogging about; it is sad that he is no more. For those who missed it, tributes to the fine compiler … Read more >>
Inquisitor 139 – PAIRS by Nutmeg
My thanks to Ho for this one as neither Hi nor Ba could do it. We found it much harder than Tennyson’s Maud and the poets a few weeks ago, though Ho didn’t! There … Read more >>
Independent 7,140 by Nimrod
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Interesting puzzle. Despite only having to blog about six clues, I’ve failed to manage them all: 1dn is still searching for an explanation. Across 8 … Read more >>
Guardian 24,795 / Orlando
Nothing too taxing or controversial here, I think, but the usual good value from Orlando, with some clever surfaces and a few smiles along the way. Across 1 ITHACA: C[irca] [about] in TABITHA … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,172 / Mudd
Some people may be unhappy with one or two of the definitions (eg 12a & 6d) and the number of double/cryptic definitions but I enjoyed this puzzle because in each corner there were … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1020 by Quixote (30 Aug 2009)
I found this quite easy, solving time 14 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 DEC (December) A MP 5 DRAW BACK (vb) 9 ME S(M)ERISED (desires)* – it’s also reversed, … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,163 – Falcon
Monday Prize Crossword on 24 August 2009 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,162 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 22 I enjoyed Mudd’s slightly unconventional 11A. I also like 3D and 20D. Across 1. ASSEMBLE – MESS (disorder) backwards in ABLE (has the tools) … Read more >>
Guardian 24794 / Gordius
I found this puzzle tough, and didn’t finish it even with both of us working on it. I think that’s just due to a few things we’d never heard of, though. [Links to … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,171 / Gozo
Some very easy clues in today’s puzzle in which all the across answers were items of clothing. I was held up briefly towards the end having confidently put in ‘stocks’ (an archaic term … Read more >>
Independent 7139/Dac
A typically pleasant crossword. Unusually for Dac, there are one or two things I’m not completely comfortable with: no doubt someone will come to the rescue. Across 1 TAR BOOS H 6 EX(PO’S)E … Read more >>
Independent 7130 (Sat 22 Aug) by Nestor
Apologies for not writing this up before disappearing for the Bank Holiday weekend. This was a challenging but not too difficult puzzle, taking me 13:50. A fine set of varied answers and plenty … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,170 / Armonie
A good solid puzzle from Armonie. Unfortunately the FT webmaster has apparently not yet returned from holiday–the last puzzle posted online is Friday’s. Across 1 PARTICLE P (penny = copper) ARTICLE (item) 5 … Read more >>